Due to the style of its painted decoration, this storage jar has been attributed to Faenza, Deruta, and most recently, to Pesaro. The difficulty in determining its place of origin is due in part to the popularity of certain decorative motifs employed by potters working in various centers of maiolica production in the last quarter of the fifteenth century.

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: Marks on base: [four wax seals, worn and damaged, one incorporating the letter D and another in Gothic characters ]

Provenance

[ Michel Boy , Paris and Versailles, until d. 1904 ] ; Sigismond Bardac , Paris (until 1913; sold as part of the Bardac collection to Seligmann); [ Arnold Seligmann , Paris and New York, 1913–14; sold as part of the Bardac collection to Schiff ]; Mortimer L. Schiff , New York (1914–d. 1931; on loan to MMA 1917–19); to his son, John); by descent, John M. Schiff (1931–46; on loan to MMA 1937–46, on view 1937–41; his sale, Parke-Bernet, New York, May 4, 1946, no. 15; sold for $500 plus $25 commission to French and Company); [ French and Co., New York , as agent for MMA, 1946 ]